This past Sunday, millions from all over the world anxiously tuned in to witness a true spectacle: another Trump v. Clinton showdown. Although many have been trying to calculate who the “loser” of the debate was, the true “loser” was the biased portrayed by the American media.
Lights glistening on the bright blue and red hues. The audiences murmurs slowly being hushed into oblivion. The news stations beginning the formal introductions, as two cleanly cut moderators emerge into the spotlight. Even before the debate has begun, it is lost. Lost in the politics of biased media. Though this is supposed to reflect a “town hall” style for the American public, it has become a reflection of imposed beliefs and questions, with the moderators taking the spotlight.
Power to the People
The United States is a presidential based democracy with two different legislative houses, three separate entities of government and checks and balances. Democracy comes from two different Greek root words: demo and cracy. Demo can be translated to people, while cracy translates to power. Since the first president, every four years has resulted in an election.
This year’s election cycle is an anomaly in its vicious rhetoric, and the argument that neither candidate is representative of the people.
One of the most common phrases has unfortunately been American citizens expressing how they are going to vote for “the lesser of two evils.” However, political views and ideologies set aside, as a country founded on the principles of democracy, it is up to the American people to decide who they wish to elected as their next Commander in Chief – not the media.
Slander and Accusations
Slander has filled these past couple of debates, with no room for discussion of policies or principles. Many Trump supporters became increasingly aggravated as it was clear that Mr. Cooper and Ms. Raddatz were not fairly distributing both speaking time and questions. Trump was interrupted at nausea throughout, while Clinton was always allowed to finish her point prior to moving on.
Even conservatives who have publicly denounced Trump and his slander, were upset with the clear bias portrayed throughout the debate. Due to the fact that a town hall debate primarily serves the purpose for undecided American voters to ask the candidates their questions directly in a public forum, influencing them serves no positive purpose.
Accusations have been flying regarding the possibility that the Clinton campaign was, in fact, emailed the questions prior to the debate, which explicitly defeats the purpose and art of debate and being able to think quickly on ones feet. What’s even more outrageous is that the allegations point towards the current head of the Democratic National Committee, Donna Brazile.
Outcomes
The biggest outrage post debate regards Trump’s offensive commentary regarding females and involving Billy Bush and the justification that it is acceptable to talk like that because it’s “locker room talk.” This has hurt Trump in the polls and with his supporters, because this slander is unacceptable regardless of the excuses he attempts to provide.
However, these slanderous comments should not diminish how blatantly biased the debate was. Americans should be upset that the debate meant particularly for the American people, the town hall style, was tarnished due to unfair and over involved moderators. Neither of these candidates remain the first choice for many, therefore polls and petitions are in the works of potentially allowing a Third Party candidate like Gary Johnson or Jill Stein to participate in the next debate.
A recent article by NBC, mentions how this is the first time in years that third party candidates are “poised for marginal success” come election time. Either way, it is up to the American people to not let socialization over bias their own personal scruples and political policy preferences.